Lauryn Hill Signs a New Record Deal To Dodge Prison
The veteran artist trades new music for no jail time.
By kathy iandoli 3 hours ago
For years, Lauryn Hill fans have been aching for a new full-length album from the Fugees frontwoman turned solo superstar. Now, they'll be getting what they've wanted (however late it may be), as Lauryn Hill inked a new record deal with Sony to pay off her gigantic tax debt.
Lauryn Hill has been in quite a bit of hot water as of late. The IRS found her owing in excess of $504,000 in unpaid taxes for $1.8 million of income earned between the years of 2005 and 2007. Hill wrote a long manifesto detailing her reasons for lack of payment, including in that the pressures of stardom contributed to her negligence. Further, Hill was recently in the news for being evicted by the landlord of her New Jersey mansion for failure to pay rent. This happened days before what would have been her sentencing for her guilty plea of tax evasion, which could have been up to three years in a federal prison. Instead, Lauryn Hill signed a new record deal.
Per Billboard, it was revealed during her court proceeding that Hill signed a new record deal with Sony for $1 million in exchange for five new songs. The more songs she records, the more money she makes. That money can in turn be used to pay off her debt, which she has until May 6th to pay. That means Hill will be able to duck prison should she pay her debt in full. The Judge for the proceeding was not pleased, stating that Hill was far from "penniless," so having to ink a new deal in order to pay her debt seems ridiculous. "Actions speak louder than words," the Hon. Madeline Cox said.
Celebrities are often criticized for being above the law, and many will find this to be a glaring example. That inevitably takes a backseat, though, to the fact that there will be new Lauryn Hill music on the horizon.
Per Billboard, it was revealed during her court proceeding that Hill signed a new record deal with Sony for $1 million in exchange for five new songs. The more songs she records, the more money she makes. That money can in turn be used to pay off her debt, which she has until May 6th to pay. That means Hill will be able to duck prison should she pay her debt in full. The Judge for the proceeding was not pleased, stating that Hill was far from "penniless," so having to ink a new deal in order to pay her debt seems ridiculous. "Actions speak louder than words," the Hon. Madeline Cox said.
Celebrities are often criticized for being above the law, and many will find this to be a glaring example. That inevitably takes a backseat, though, to the fact that there will be new Lauryn Hill music on the horizon.
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